An unlikely path to Haute Horlogerie
Resta’s path to Haute Horlogerie was anything but conventional. With a background in Latin, Greek, and philosophy, she originally envisioned a career in teaching. A serendipitous encounter with Procter & Gamble shifted her focus to marketing, where she rose through the ranks to lead a major beauty division in the US. Later, she helmed a Swiss fragrance company with a mandate to future-proof it through transformation.
The invitation to join Audemars Piguet came unexpectedly, but it tapped into something deeply personal. As a lifelong admirer of Swiss culture and craftsmanship, Resta was captivated by the opportunity to steward a company that had remained fiercely independent – and human – since its founding.
“It was totally unexpected,” she said. “I never thought that this was an avenue for me, because when I looked around, I could only see people with a long tenure of experience in watchmaking, and at my seniority level, I didn’t see anyone coming from outside.”
But clearly, an outsider was exactly what the 150-year-old brand needed – especially as the Swiss watch industry confronts mounting challenges. A proposed tariff on exports to the US – its largest market – had cast a shadow of uncertainty over future trade. Meanwhile, a sharp slowdown in Chinese demand compounded pressures, as post-pandemic exuberance gave way to cautious consumer sentiment.
Factor in the booming pre-owned market, shifting generational expectations, and rising calls for sustainability, and the need to evolve became undeniable – even for the most storied manufacturers. For leaders like Resta, the question was not whether the industry will change – but how to ensure it thrives through transformation. Yet despite these headwinds, Resta remains bullish on the industry’s future.
“The watch industry, the luxury industry, and any other industry at this stage is going through an important inflection point,” she said. “But we should separate what the short-term uncertainties are – due to macroeconomic and political choices – from the industry-specific challenges, and then from the long-term outlook.”
“If you look at the long term, I’m extremely confident that this industry will continue thriving,” said Resta. “Why? Because the fundamentals are solid and healthy. When I look at the fundamentals, I look at the broad interest in watchmaking from the clients of today – and the clients of tomorrow.”